Valkenburg in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Limburg, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Philips Fabriek
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Philips Factory
| | 75 jaar Bevrijding fotoroute | |
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
1. Philips Fabriek / Philips Factory Marker
From the summer of 1944, a factory of the Philips Valvo Werke from Aachen was established in the Heidegroeve. After the former quarry/mine was prepared by the Organization Todt, 900 (forced) workers worked on the production of radio receiving and transmitting equipment for the experimental (Junkers) JU-388 aircraft.
Erected 2019. (Marker Number 07/20.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Valkenburg Bevrijding/Liberation Route series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.
Location. 50° 51.926′ N, 5° 49.343′ E. Marker is in Valkenburg, Limburg, in Valkenburg aan de Geul. It is on Plenkertstraat, on the right when traveling
this page online
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: De Via Belgica (within shouting distance of this marker); Werktuigen van Vuursteen / Flint Tools (within shouting distance of this marker); Haksporen / Tool Marks (within shouting distance of this marker); Romeinse Katakomben / Roman Catacombs (within shouting distance of this marker); Vuurstijn-Mijnwerkers / Flint Miners (within shouting distance of this marker); Kruitmolen/ Gunpowder Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); De Vondst Van De Vuursteenmijnen / The Discovery of the Flint Mines (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
2. Philips Fabriek / Philips Factory Marker - wide view
Also see . . . Ooit een champignonkwekerij (BNR, August 8, 2019, in Dutch). Full title is: Ooit een champignonkwekerij, straks een expositie over een ondergrondse oorlogsfabriek, which translates to Once a mushroom farm, soon an exhibition about an underground war factory.
Excerpt (in translation): The Roman Catacombs Museum in Valkenburg has made a former underground Philips factory from the Second World War visible to the public. A sister company of Philips made aircraft parts for Nazi Germany at the factory. The factory was in use for a month before thousands of civilians took shelter there for weeks from the bombings.(Submitted on June 1, 2024.)
Towards the end of the war, the Germans moved their war industry underground as much as possible because of the bombings. In Limburg, marl quarries were very suitable for this. "We try to bring the past to life with light and sound effects and panels with interviews with people who studied there," says Jacquo Silvertant of the Roman Catacombs Museum in Valkenburg.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
